The King’s Harbour Master (KHM) Portsmouth is the regulatory authority of the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth. The Dockyard Port is a busy area of The Solent; home to a strategic base of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth International Port and the main shipping route to/from the Port of Southampton. The Dockyard Port is used extensively by commercial, leisure and recreational mariners. HM Naval Base Portsmouth is the home base of almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships, including the flagship aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales. Portsmouth Harbour is also designated an official site of special scientific interest.
KHM has extensive powers specified in The Dockyard Ports Regulation Act 1865 and superintends The Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005. Together, the Act and the Order provide KHM with powers to make rules, regulations, and issue directions to all vessels within the Dockyard Port, be they commercial, private or military. The powers of the KHM are also delegated to specifically authorised Deputies and Assistants.
The most famous and historically important ships in the harbour are MARY ROSE, HMS VICTORY and WARRIOR.
- What we do
- Port Limits
- Portsmouth VTS
Tide tables
This information is produced by permission of the UK Hydrographic Office. All times are given in Local Time and are adjusted for British Summer Time (BST) where appropriate.
Enforcement policy
Read the Portsmouth Enforcement Policy.
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